AMO and UQM to Collaborate on Climate Action

In Ottawa today AMO and the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UQM) signed an agreement to collaborate on climate action.

The Associations also called on the provinces and the federal government to provide resources and funding to municipalities to reduce greenhouse gases and build resilient communities.

AMO and UQM will work together to share policy and advocacy efforts and best practices to achieve climate action goals under the agreement. The Associations highlighted a range of initiatives municipal governments have undertaken in Ontario and Quebec to reduce greenhouse gases and protect their communities and economies from extreme weather, noting more local action needed to be taken to meet climate change goals.

The Agreement comes as a number of initiatives on climate change are moving forward. The Premiers and Prime Minister Trudeau met in Ottawa on Monday to discuss Canada’s position at the United Nations Paris Climate Change Conference. It is widely thought that a global agreement to tackle climate change may result from this conference. On Sunday, the Alberta Government announced a new carbon tax to limit greenhouse gas emissions in that province.

Over the last few years Ontario and Quebec have been deepening their collaboration in a number of areas, including climate change. Ontario has announced it will implement a Cap and Trade program to price greenhouse gas emissions that is integrated with Quebec and California as part of its long term climate strategy. AMO and UQM want their provincial governments to provide funding from the Cap and Trade programs for municipal greenhouse gas reduction projects, recognize a range of municipal projects for offset credits to increase investment in low carbon technologies and provide the tools and resources to support municipal climate action.

Municipal resolution

AMO members are encouraged to support the call by passing the attached resolution to the provincial government:

To: The Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier

Dear Premier:

Please be advised that the municipality of _________ supports the collaboration of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) and the Union of Quebec Municipalities (UQM) to enhance support municipal climate action in our provinces.

To help meet reduction targets and to reduce emissions in our communities and improve resilience in local economies, we call on you to work in partnership with local governments and:

Give municipalities adequate, stable and long-term funding resources to invest in greenhouse gas reduction initiatives in our communities such as public transit and active transportation, public and private building energy efficiency; water conservation, planning development and other programs;